There are players retiring and changes will happen in the Scotland set up going forward following the Women’s Rugby World Cup exit, but skipper Rachel Malcolm has emphatically stated that she will be playing on.
Club wise, The 34-year-old back-row will now join up with Trailfinders Rugby for the upcoming PWR season after joining them from Loughborough Lightning.
Internationally, she earned her 62nd cap on Sunday in Bristol in the quarter-final loss to England at the World Cup.
It was a record 53rd game as captain too and when asked post-match if she might be following team mates Jade Konkel and Lisa Cockburn into international retirement she said: “No, I’ll shut that one down straight away.
“I think people could look at my date of birth and probably jump to the fact that it looks like it should be time for me to hang my boots up, but Scotland women and pushing this team forward is something that will always be at the forefront for me and I’m so passionate about it.
“While I am physically and probably more importantly mentally in a good headspace I’ll continue to fight and I’ll continue to try and help take this group to the next level.
“Look, I don’t know what the future holds, I don’t know if it’s going to be within my control whether that’s up to me or not, but I have absolutely no intention to step aside.
“I feel great, I’m loving my rugby and this team is my absolute everything.”
- Lynne Cantwell of Ireland and Rochelle Clark of England are being inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame.
Rachel Malcolm is pictured singing the national anthem alongside team mate Leah Bartlett and a mascot pre-England – thanks to World Rugby
From August 7 until September 30, GH Media will be following the Scotland World Cup journey all of the way. We will be at all of the Scotland matches down south and will be bringing you all of the interviews and news from camp as well as taking a wider look at the tournament as a whole and its impact on the women’s game. Thanks to Quirky Chocolate and other supporters for allowing this content to happen and to readers for engaging with it.